A group of civil activists responded to a memorandum between Switzerland and Uzbekistan on their intention to begin the procedure for returning the $ 131 million confiscated from Gulnara Karimova.
They noted that the commitments made are welcome and represent an important step towards achieving the goals of Uzbek civil society. But, in their opinion, the agreement requires proof of further internal reforms, taking into account the political and institutional environment in Uzbekistan.
In a statement to the authorities of Switzerland, Uzbekistan, and the United States, they pointed out the legal conflicts of the memorandum. The case of Gulnara Karimova is being considered within the framework of criminal legal procedures, which do not legally oblige the Swiss government to establish “conditions” for the return of assets. The signatories would like to warn against repeating the problematic experience of repatriation to Kazakhstan of the $ 48.8 million confiscated by Switzerland in 2011.
As it later became known, the World Bank received instructions from Switzerland to facilitate the return of assets to Kazakhstan. The bank chose an organization controlled by Dariga Nazarbayeva as its general partner to manage the assets of one of its social projects. Thus, the expenditure of funds was carried out by a structure closely connected with the ruling regime, which is carrying out repressions against civil society. “We are trying to prevent a repetition of such a scenario,” activists expressed their opinion.
In their view, the requirements for transparency and accountability can be well interpreted and applied. This means that in the asset recovery process clear procedures and formats need to be developed with the participation of local independent and international civil society groups.
The statement noted that there are still no conditions for the activity of an independent non-governmental sector in Uzbekistan. The country still has strict restrictions on NGO registration. The authors of the collective appeal believe that the requirement of accountability simply cannot be met until the rule of law is established in the country. The government has not yet established an anti-corruption mechanism, without which the abuse of the spending of recovered assets is highly possible.
Leave feedback about this